About the Program
The Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture (HCTH) is an eight-month program combining comprehensive online and in-person instruction to professionals and students in allied health, education, and design fields who wish to incorporate therapeutic horticulture into their practice.
The program allows maximum flexibility for those who need convenient, self-paced, evening, and weekend learning opportunities. Students will build foundational knowledge and explore how Therapeutic Horticulture supports human health & wellness, including physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual, vocational, and social needs. Instructors in the program include AHTA registered horticultural therapists, accomplished therapeutic horticulture professionals, allied health professionals, and other accomplished experts in their respective fields.
The 2022 Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture will run from August 20, 2022 to April 15, 2023. Register here >
Wondering about the difference between the Hybrid and Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture? Learn more in this program comparison chart.
Eligibility
Professionals who will find the program highly applicable to their work include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, recreational therapists, art/music/movement therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, nurses, physicians, rehabilitation counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, substance use disorder counselors, K-12 educators, college educators, educators of exceptional children, public garden professionals, urban planning designers, and landscape designers/architects.
Format
Students will receive approximately one hour of recorded lectures each month (August 20, 2022- April 15, 2023) that cover a wide variety of topics. There is no limit to the number of times students can listen to the lectures, and they can be accessed 24/7 on our online learning platform. The recorded content of this hybrid program has been developed in partnership with the NC State Extension Gardener program.
On the second Saturday of each month, we will meet as a group at the North Carolina Botanical Garden and discuss the lecture content, participate in hands-on activities that reinforce the online content, network with classmates, instructors, and attend field trips to therapeutic horticulture programs that are local to the Garden. Our past students have reported that the depth of course content, field trips, and peer networking opportunities were amongst their favorite aspects of our program!
Learn more in the HCTH Handbook >
Tuition
Tuition for the eight-month Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture is $1,850. Registrations on or after August 20 will incur a $300 late registration fee.
Registrants have the option to pay in full or in installments. A deposit is due at the time of registration. The final payment for all installment plans is August 19, 2022.
We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide partial-tuition scholarships to up to four allied-health students or professionals who aspire to bring the healing effects of nature into their practice. Learn more about this scholarship opportunity. (Note: the application period for the 2022-2023 program has closed.)
Completion
Students earn a Certificate of Mastery by viewing all online lectures (approximately 1-2 hours per month), attending 7 of 8 in-person weekend classes, and satisfactorily completing a final take-home practicum. Students have the option of completing a 40-hour internship at a therapeutic horticulture program of their choosing or an alternative site (such as the student’s workplace or community affiliation) that is approved by the NCBG Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager.
Online Content Hours: Approximately 8 hours (24/7 access allows unlimited review of lectures)
In-Person Skills Workshops: 48 hours
Course scheduling is designed for completion within an 8-month period.
Upcoming Programs
The 2022 Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture is currently running and will end on April 15, 2023. The next Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture program will occur in the fall of 2023. If you’d like to know when scholarship opportunities and registration for the 2023 HCTH program opens, please join our interest list in the “Stay in the Loop” link at the bottom of this page.
We are also developing a series of fully online therapeutic horticulture classes in partnership with the NC State Extension Gardener Program. Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture is the first in the series and is suitable for anyone interested in exploring the field of therapeutic horticulture.
Stay in the Loop
Join our email list for updates on our Therapeutic Horticulture programs.
